Nexon's CEO emphasized the necessity of assuming that all gaming companies are implementing AI, in response to discussions surrounding Arc Raiders
The CEO of Nexon, Junghun Lee, has highlighted the prevalence of generative AI in the gaming industry, emphasizing that nearly all game developers are now utilizing this technology. His comments come amid discussions surrounding Arc Raiders, a title by Embark Studios published by Nexon, which has faced scrutiny for employing "procedural and AI-based tools" in content creation, as mentioned on its Steam listing.
In an interview with Gamespark (translated by Automaton), Lee explained that generative AI has enhanced efficiency in game production and live service operations. He stated, "it's important to assume that every game company is now using AI," emphasizing the need for strategies that boost competitiveness as the technology becomes commonplace.
Stefan Strandberg, Chief Creative Officer at Embark Studios, shared with Eurogamer the studio's approach to AI, noting it's used to aid creativity rather than replace it. For instance, Arc Raiders features text-to-speech technology in its voice acting, allowing the game to expand in areas deemed necessary or repetitive, a technique also used in their previous game, The Finals, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz.
Strandberg mentioned that their founding principle was to embrace and push the boundaries of new technologies to maintain a small, innovative team capable of taking creative risks. This approach allows them to scale games and enhance features beyond what might be possible otherwise. Nexon's strategy on AI aligns with broader industry conversations, highlighted by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney's defense of AI, suggesting it significantly boosts productivity and enhances game quality, as he expressed in a social media discussion.
Additionally, in a move to safeguard against potential over-reliance on AI, members of SAG-AFTRA in the United States recently approved an agreement that includes provisions for voice actors concerning AI. These measures ensure transparency and maintain certain rights if AI is utilized to create digital replicas of their voices, as part of ongoing discussions about AI's role in media and entertainment sectors.